COLUMBUS, Ohio – With the upcoming season quickly approaching, the defending Big Ten champions are eager to begin preseason camp next month and will welcome eight new student-athletes. The Ohio State men’s soccer incoming class was rated as the No. 4 recruiting class by College Soccer News – the highest rated recruiting class in program history. The Scarlet and Gray have now assembled Top 10 nationally-ranked classes in back-to-back years.

“We are very excited about the incoming class of players whom we feel will address the positional needs required for the 2016 team,” head coach John Bluem said. “This is a very talented group of players, but also young men who will represent Ohio State in the highest standard possible in the classroom and community.”

The class includes three players with national team experience. The group hails from three different countries, while five members are natives of Ohio. The incoming Buckeyes feature three midfielders, three defenders and two goalkeepers.

“Much of this class has to do with the endless amount of work from Shaun Swearingen (Senior Academic Athletic Counselor), Matthew Bartlebaugh and Monica Iachini (Compliance), Tyler Carpenter (Strength Coach) and Jason Rule (Athletic Trainer),” assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ian Gordona said. “I cannot say enough for how lucky we are to have them working with us. We feel very fortunate as a staff to have these young men join the Buckeye family and I look forward to working with each of them moving forward.”

Andrew Lombard / D / Montclair, N.J. / Northeastern University / Montclair H.S.Lombard is a transfer from Northeastern University and was named to the U20 U.S. National Team in 2015. As a freshman, he started in 13 games for the Huskies while competing with the national team. Lombard reads the game well and is a “pure” ball winner. A powerful and fast defender, Lombard played for the New York Red Bulls Academy and helped his team to an 18-4 record and a No. 4 national ranking. He was invited to the U.S. U-18 national identification camp in 2014.

Leo Kossaka / M / Sherbrooke, Quebec / Saint-Exupery Secondary School Kossaka is a Canadian youth national team player, who turned a professional contract with the Montreal Impact of the MLS to join the Buckeye squad. A holding midfielder and a ball winner, Kossaka was with the Montreal Impact Academy and team captain last season, starting in 20 games and guiding his team to fourth-place finish at the USSDA finals. Kossaka was born in Curitiba, Brazil, before moving to Canada. Kossaka has represented Canada twice on the U17 squad and won two championships with the Quebec team.

Niall Logue / D / Northern Ireland / Yavapai Junior College / Immaculate Conception College Logue is a Northern Ireland youth national team member and two-time All-American captain at Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Ariz. In 2014, Logue anchored the Roughriders defense which recorded 15 shutouts, while allowing just nine goals to finish with a 20-1-2 record. In 2015, Logue helped the Yavapai defense to 10 shutouts and a 0.94 goals-against average to propel his team to its 25th conference championship. Logue also played four years of club ball at centerback for Institute FC and was captain of the U19 league cup winners.

Brady Blackwell / M / Dublin, Ohio / San Diego State University / Dublin Scioto H.S. Blackwell, a native of Dublin, Ohio, is a transfer from San Diego State University. A holding midfielder, Blackwell saw action in 16 games and earned nine starts as a freshman in 2014. He scored his first collegiate goal against Wright State to claim the win for the Aztecs as a rookie. In 2015, Blackwell scored one goal and recorded one assist in 15 games. He was a part of the Columbus Crew youth system and named a Top 150 recruit out of high school.

Jack Holland / M / Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman H.S.Holland, from Dublin, Ohio, is a crafty midfielder and also a Top 150 recruit coming out of high school. He was named team MVP, first team All-OCC, All-district, All-region and All-state during the 2014-15 campaign. Holland played club for the OP Eagles and was captain of the 2014 national finalist team. A five-time state cup champion, Holland was a part of the 2015 regional finalist squad.

Brennon Davis / GK / Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Jerome H.S. Davis, who is the third incoming Buckeye hailed from Dublin, Ohio, is one of two goalkeepers in the 2016 class. Davis started all four years for the Celtics and holds the record for career saves after being named All-OCC and two-time captain at Dublin Jerome. He played club with OP Eagles and was a national finalist and five-time state champion.

Matt Appel / GK / Canal Winchester, Ohio / Canal Winchester H.S. Appel, a goalkeeper from Canal Winchester, Ohio, is a transfer from Xavier University. A Big East All-Academic Team honoree, Appel was in the Columbus Crew system growing up and was a three-time first team All-league, two-time All-region at Canal Winchester High School. In 2012, Appel was named a second team All-State selection.

Michael Dichlian / D / Copley, Ohio / Cleveland State University / Copley H.S.Dichlian is a transfer from Cleveland State University where he started at centerback for the Vikings. Prior to his time at Cleveland State, Dichlian was an All-American and All-State selection in 2013 at Copley High School. He was a two-time captain and All-conference honoree in 2012 and 2013. Dichlian played for Cleveland United from 2011-13 and was state cup runner-up. In 2014, he was with CSA Impact and a state and regional winner as well as a national qualifier.